| Abstract: | Sidescan sonar holds great promise as a tool to quantitatively depict the distribution and extent of benthic habitats in Louisiana‘s turbid estuaries. In this study, we describe an effective protocol for acoustic sampling in this environment. We also compared three methods of classification in detail: mean-based thresholding, supervised, and unsupervised techniques to classify sidescan imagery into categories of mud and shell. Classification results were compared to ground truth results using quadrat and dredge sampling. Supervised classification gave the best overall result (kappa = 75%) when compared to quadrat results. Classification accuracy was less robust when compared to all dredge samples (kappa = 21-56%), but increased greatly (90-100%) when only dredge samples taken from acoustically homogeneous areas were considered. Sidescan sonar when combined with ground truth sampling at an appropriate scale can be effectively used to establish an accurate substrate base map for both research applications and shellfish management. The sidescan imagery presented here also provides, for the first time, a detailed presentation of oyster habitat patchiness and scale in a productive oyster growing area. |
| Genre: | Article |
| ProdID: | 1002825 |
| Citation Author: | Allen, Y.C.; Wilson, C.A.; Roberts, H.H.; Supan, J. |
| Citation Contributing Office: | National Wetlands Research Center |
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| Citation End Page: | 446 |
| Citation Issue: | 3 |
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| Citation Language: | English |
| Citation Larger Work Title: | Estuaries |
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| Citation Month: | JUN |
| Citation No Pagination: | |
| Citation Number Of Pages: | 12 |
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| Citation Phsyical Description: | p. 435-446 |
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| Citation Search Results Text: | High resolution mapping and classification of oyster habitats in nearshore Louisiana using sidescan sonar; 2005; Article; Journal; Estuaries; Allen, Y.C.; Wilson, C.A.; Roberts, H.H.; Supan, J. |
| Citation Start Page: | 435 |
| Citation Volume: | 28 |
| Citation Year: | 2005 |
| Type: | citation/reference |
| Text: | High resolution mapping and classification of oyster habitats in nearshore Louisiana using sidescan sonar; 2005; Article; Journal; Estuaries; Allen, Y.C.; Wilson, C.A.; Roberts, H.H.; Supan, J. |
| URL (THUMBNAIL): | http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/thumbnails/outside_thumb.jpg |
| URL (INDEX PAGE): | http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02693925 |
| Date Other: | Sat, 1 Jan 2005 00:00 -0600 |
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